by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2017 | James
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional, my mind reflects back to the memory of my precious Dad. I cherished every moment I spent with my Dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my Dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the U.S. that claimed many lives. In 1903, Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In Cleland’s hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 9, 2017 | 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 4:10
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”
Have you ever poured out your heart to the Lord asking that He enlarge your territories? Are you content to quietly creep toward retirement when you could be catapulted into creative ministry?
From time to time people I run into, friends that I have not seen for awhile, and they ask me how I am enjoying retirement. I have to laugh since I am more active in ministry now than at any time in my entire ministry: Pastoring an organic congregation, producing a Daily-E-Votional that is sent worldwide, authoring several books, officiating at funeral services, counseling … and several other activities.
Several years ago I began to pray this prayer of Jabez for enlarged territory. I cannot begin to describe how the Lord has answered — not only has He given me a worldwide ministry, He keeps opening new doors.
I challenge you to join me in praying this prayer of Jabez. Let the Lord give you a unique ministry that will be designed by Him just for you. I can assure you right now that God is anxious to answer your prayer!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing! – –
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 8, 2017 | Matthew
Matthew 11:13
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
It is sad when we shut our ears to the very things that we should be listening to. God makes every effort to speak to us, but we fill our lives with such clutter and confusion that His voice goes unrecognized and unheard.
I recall a young professional man who signed up for one of our Bible classes where the format was to pass out question sheets for each student to answer before the next class. This particular young man was in a class being taught by his manager. As he attempted to complete the question sheet, he could not find any of the answers. Amused, he could hardly wait for the class to start to see how his manager would react to this oversight.
To the young man’s shock, however, every question had been answered by the other class members. He was confused as to why he, a college graduate, could not answer questions that the other members had answered? About three weeks later this young man went into his manager’s office and expressed an emptiness he felt. Ultimately, he received Jesus into his heart.
Do you have ears to hear? You may be a born again child of God, but do you have the spiritual ears to hear as God speaks to you? Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing! – –
– Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 7, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 41:12
“As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever.”
A true rejoicing of my heart is all of the friends that I have made across the years. Though I seem to make friends easily and naturally, I never take them for granted — each one is a very a special gift. But this has not always been the case.
As a boy I don’t recall ever having an especially close friend. Oh, how I longed for that kind of bonded relationship! Most of my life has been spent feeling that I was unique in that regard. But now, being somewhat matured and having talked with more and more people, I realize that most people feel they lack true friends, especially when they are growing up.
This passage in Psalm 41 certainly is prophetic of Jesus and Judas Iscariot, but it also has personal implications. There are those times in life when our closest friends turn their backs on us and we find ourselves all alone. This is the time when we need to experience the friendship of Jesus who will never leave us or reject us.
There is an old hymn that goes something like this: “Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus, He’s the only One who cares and understands.” Jesus is our true friend!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 6, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 1:3
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.”
As often as possible I love to watch the passage of the International Space Station through the night sky. It takes me back to the time I first observed the passage of Sputnik long ago in 1957. It is a thrill to observe these satellites pass so silently across the dark skies above our heads.
The believer’s light source is not in his or her own actions, but in what the Lord shines into their life. Just as Jesus was “the radiance of God’s glory,” so we are called to shine forth with the illumination of His presence in our life.
As we sail silently through the dark skies of this old sin-sick world, I pray that each of us will turn our eyes upon Him. As we do, people should see His brilliance reflected in us. As Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, so must Jesus be the source of our light.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
